House of Lords 'Behaviour Change' Inquiry

The aim of much government policy is to bring about changes in people’s behaviour and so a government’s success will often depend on their ability to implement effective behaviour change interventions whilst, at the same time, avoiding significant harmful side effects. Governments can use a variety of different types of policy interventions to change the behaviour of the population. These range from providing information or undertaking campaigns of persuasion that promote certain behaviour, to taxation and legislation. In Table 1 of this report we set out a schematic list of types of intervention.

The aim of much government policy is to bring about changes in people’s behaviour and so a government’s success will often depend on their ability to implement effective behaviour change interventions whilst, at the same time, avoiding significant harmful side effects. Governments can use a variety of different types of policy interventions to change the behaviour of the population. These range from providing information or undertaking campaigns of persuasion that promote certain behaviour, to taxation and legislation. In Table 1 of this report we set out a schematic list of types of intervention.

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General Information

General information about the House of Lords and its Committees, including guidance towitnesses, details of current inquiries and forthcoming meetings is on the internet at:http://www.parliament.uk/business/lords

Committee Staff

The current staff of the Sub-Committee I are Daisy Ricketts (Clerk), Rachel Newton (PolicyAnalyst) and Cerise Burnett-Stuart (Committee Assistant).

Contact Details

All correspondence should be addressed to the Clerk of the Science and Technology Committee,Committee Office, House of Lords, London SW1A 0PW.The telephone number for general enquiries is 020 7219 4963The Committee’s email address ishlscience@parliament.uk

CONTENTS

Paragraph Page

Summary

5

Chapter 1: Introduction

7

Scope of the inquiry

1.4

7

Structure of the report

1.8

8

Acknowledgements

1.9

8

Chapter 2: Definitions, categorisation and the ethics of behaviourchange interventions

9

Definitions and categorisation

2.2

9

Interventions and ethical acceptability

2.10

12

Conclusion

2.19

15

Chapter 3: Understanding what influences behaviour

16

Different kinds of evidence

3.1

16

Understanding behaviour: basic research

3.2

16

Applied research at a population level

3.6

17

Conclusion

3.10

18

Chapter 4: Evidence-based policy

20

Are Government policies evidence-based?

4.1

20

Addressing the barriers to evidence-based policy

4.9

22

Translation of research

4.17

25

Chapter 5: The Government approach to changing behaviour

32

An emphasis on non-regulatory interventions

5.2

32

Partnership Working

5.16

36

Voluntary agreements between Government and businesses

5.19

38

The role of local authorities

5.28

41

Chapter 6: Evaluation of behaviour change interventions

45

Ensuring effective evaluation

6.2

45

Conclusions

6.14

50

Chapter 7: Case studies

52

Case Study 1: Tackling obesity

7.2

52

Case Study 2: reducing car use

7.26

59

Chapter 8: Conclusions and recommendations

67

Appendix 1: Members and declarations of interest

73

Appendix 2: List of witnesses

75

Appendix 3: Calls for evidence

88

Appendix 4: Seminar on behaviour change interventions to preventand tackle obesity held at the House of Lords

93

Appendix 5: Seminar on behaviour change and travel behaviourheld at the House of Lords

99

Appendix 6: Ethics and behaviour change seminar held at theHouse of Lords

A recent report from the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee 'Behaviour Change' cites written evidence by Drs Bennett Foddy and Eric Mandelbaum. Dr Foddy also participated in the 'Ethics and Behaviour Change' seminar which took place at the House of Lords on 10 February 2011.